Press Release No. 70/2015 IG Metall Strengthens Partnership with the American Auto Workers Union (UAW)

Frankfurt/Spring Hill – IG Metall is advancing its partnership with the American auto workers’ union, the UAW. “We are entering a new phase of our long-standing cooperation,” said Wolfgang Lemb, executive board member of IG Metall, on Thursday at the opening of the joint educational institution “Transatlantic Labor Institute” (TLI) in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The goal of this closer cooperation with the UAW is to work together to improve working conditions for all employees—particularly at the sites of German automakers and their suppliers in the U.S. Another objective is to advise the UAW on how it can strengthen and expand employee participation in the workplace through works councils or comparable institutions.

“We are pleased to be part of this new partnership and appreciate IG Metall’s commitment,” said Gary Casteel, UAW Chief Treasurer and head of the union’s Transnational Department. “We see this as an opportunity to develop new approaches to employee representation.” This represents the merging of two union cultures. Each can learn from the other and adopt the best methods for its own practices.

“We want to help ensure that, through the UAW, good working conditions, fair wages, and genuine worker participation are implemented nationwide in the U.S. as well,” said Lemb. German companies have steadily expanded production in the U.S. in recent years. Last year, German manufacturers in the U.S., employing 100,000 workers, produced 750,000 cars.

IG Metall is not opposed to German companies doing business in the U.S. However, this must be done under good conditions for the employees.